Music Video Introduction

purposes of music videos

• entertainment

• branding/identity

• sales

pop genre conventions

• emphasis on the performing artist( lots of close-ups)

• city locations

• surrealism

• unusual outfits

• narrative

• dance routines and dancers

• lip syncing

• props to perform with

• lots of scenes

hip hop genre conventions

• low angle shots

• performers perform directly into the camera

• trainers/streetwear

• conflict, violent imagery

• break dancing (skilled performative dancing)

• city/urban environments

• male rappers are surrounded by women (accessories)

• depiction of wealth (gold jewellery)

rock genre conventions

• electric guitars, instruments

• black outfits (grunge, heavy metal style)

• wild hair

• no diegetic sound usually (pure music)

• flashing lights

• short clips (fast cutting rate)

• black and white

• focused on the band performing (close ups)

• crowds

country genre conventions

• acoustic guitar

• horses

• cowboy hats and accessories

• rural farm/ranch areas

• sunsets

• long shots of countryside

• line dancing

• jeans and plaid shirt

• love stories

• tractors/agriculture

indie genre conventions

• close-up of lead singer

• bright colours

• black and white

• grainy film VHS style (low-budget aesthetic)

• nature (flowers)

• casual outfits

• abandoned locations

• handheld camerawork

classical genre conventions

• orchestra

• grand setting (music hall, theatre peaceful, empty locations)

• formalwear

• emphasis on instruments

• ethereal classy vibes

• swirling camera movements

• old buildings with grand ceilings

when was burn the witch released?

may 3rd 2016

how many views/comments does burn the witch have on youtube?

42 million and 21 thousand comments

who directed the music video for burn the witch?

chris hopewell

when did sun goes down release?

21st may 2021

who directed sun goes down?

lil nas x and psycho films

how many views/comments does sun goes down have on youtube?

48 million views, 70 thousand comments

who is lil nas x?

• rose to fame on vine/twitter

• came out as gay in june 2019, received backlash

• old town road is the longest running no.1 hit on the billboard hot 100 chart (19 weeks)

  • OTR was removed from the country charts for not being country enough, prompting a remix featuring billy ray cyrus

what did montero say about his teenage years?

he knew he was gay but prayed it was a phase - emphasised in the music video

what does CAGE of identity refer to?

class, age, gender and ethnicity(/race)

what is paul gilroy’s theory of post colonialism?

• the history of colonialism influences attitudes of ethnicity in western societies

• black identity is formed by diaspora (scattering of people across the world due to slave trade)

• post-colonialism melancholy is where western european views of other races are shaped by colonial attitudes/beliefs